mineral
Clear quartz fragment
Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO₂)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectTypically colorless to milky, transparent to translucent, with a glassy luster and conchoidal fracture; Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, and no cleavage. The pictured irregular fragment is consistent with broken quartz, though image-only identification is not definitive.
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Physical properties
Typically colorless to milky, transparent to translucent, with a glassy luster and conchoidal fracture; Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, and no cleavage. The pictured irregular fragment is consistent with broken quartz, though image-only identification is not definitive.
Formation & geological history
Quartz crystallizes from silica-rich igneous and hydrothermal fluids and also occurs in metamorphic and sedimentary rocks; specimens range from ancient to geologically recent. It commonly forms in veins, cavities, pegmatites, and sandstone.
Uses & applications
Used in glassmaking, electronics, abrasives, engineered stone, and as a gemstone or mineral specimen.
Geological facts
Quartz is one of Earth’s most abundant minerals and is piezoelectric, generating an electrical charge under pressure.
Field identification & locations
Look for hardness sufficient to scratch ordinary glass, glassy luster, and lack of cleavage; avoid confusing it with calcite, which is much softer. Common worldwide, including Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, and alpine regions.
